Stay Ahead of Scams: Key Advice from the FTC for Consumer Protection Week 2026

Every March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) leads National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), a nationwide effort to help people understand their rights and spot deceptive practices. For 2026, the message is clear: the scam landscape is evolving, but your power to protect yourself is growing, too. This week serves as a critical checkpoint to review your defenses against fraud, identity theft, and privacy invasions that are becoming more sophisticated each year.

The Evolving Threats to Watch in 2026

While classic cons like phishing emails and fake tech support calls persist, new variations are emerging. Based on recent FTC data and consumer complaints, several threats are particularly prominent right now:

  • Imposter Scams 2.0: Scammers are increasingly posing as trusted figures beyond family or government agents. This now includes fake communications from your bank’s “fraud department,” your utility company, or even your employer’s HR team, often using spoofed phone numbers or compromised email threads to create a false sense of urgency.
  • The Phishing Evolution: The generic “Dear Customer” email is being replaced by highly targeted “spear-phishing.” You might receive a message that appears to be from a service you actually use, referencing a recent transaction (often gleaned from a past data breach) to trick you into clicking a malicious link or sharing a one-time passcode.
  • AI-Powered Fraud: Tools that generate convincing fake audio, video, or text are being weaponized. While not every scam uses “deepfakes,” AI is making fraudulent pleas for money—like a fake voice call from a “grandchild” in distress—sound more realistic. More commonly, AI is used to draft flawless, personalized scam messages at scale.
  • Online Shopping and Refund Tricks: Fraud related to online purchases remains a top complaint. This includes sellers who never deliver items, sites selling counterfeit goods, and tricky “free trial” offers that lock you into hard-to-cancel subscriptions. A newer twist involves fake “refund” scams, where a con artist pretends to help you get money back from a prior bad purchase, only to steal your banking details.

Practical Steps to Secure Your Digital Life

Knowledge of threats is only half the battle. Here are concrete actions you can take, echoing the FTC’s core advice for 2026.

  1. Slow Down and Verify. Pressure to act immediately is the scammer’s greatest tool. If you get an urgent call, text, or email demanding money or information, hang up or close the message. Contact the organization directly using a phone number or website you know is genuine—not the contact details provided in the suspicious message.
  2. Lock Down Your Login. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on every account that offers it, especially email, banking, and social media. This usually means receiving a code via text or an authentication app. While not foolproof, it is a critical barrier that stops most automated attacks.
  3. Make Yourself a Harder Target. Use strong, unique passwords for different accounts. Consider using a reputable password manager. Regularly check your credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com and review bank and credit card statements for unauthorized charges. You can also freeze your credit at the three major bureaus to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name.
  4. Spot the Red Flags. Be skeptical of any request for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency—these are nearly impossible to trace and recover. Be wary of messages with poor grammar, but also be aware that many now have perfect grammar. The true red flag is the request and the urgency, not always the presentation.
  5. Think Before You Share. Limit the personal information you post on social media. Details like your pet’s name, your mother’s maiden name, or your birthday can be used to answer security questions or tailor scams.

How to Use the FTC’s Free Resources

National Consumer Protection Week is also about knowing where to turn for help. The FTC provides several essential, no-cost tools:

  • Report Fraud: If you are targeted by or lose money to a scam, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report helps law enforcement identify patterns and crack down on fraudsters. It goes into the FTC’s secure Consumer Sentinel Network, which is used by thousands of law enforcers nationwide.
  • Get Alerts: Sign up for consumer alerts directly from the FTC at ftc.gov/subscribe. You’ll get timely emails about new scams as they emerge.
  • Educate Yourself and Others: The FTC’s website (ftc.gov) is a vast library of free articles, videos, and infographics on virtually every consumer topic. During NCPW, they often highlight new guides and host virtual events—check their site for the 2026 schedule.

Staying Vigilant is a Year-Round Job

The goal of National Consumer Protection Week isn’t to make you fearful of every click and call. It’s to empower you with straightforward strategies that become habitual. Scammers adapt their tactics, but the fundamental principles of protection—skepticism of urgency, securing your accounts, and knowing how to report problems—remain constant.

Treat this week as your annual digital safety check-up. Review your privacy settings, talk to family members about these threats, and bookmark the FTC’s website. By taking these proactive steps, you’re not just defending yourself; you’re contributing to a broader effort to disrupt fraud and make the marketplace safer for everyone.

Sources: Guidance and data synthesized from Federal Trade Commission consumer advisories and resources related to National Consumer Protection Week. Primary advice drawn from FTC publications on impostor scams, identity theft, and secure online practices.